ISLAMABAD: Australia has introduced significant opportunities for skilledPakistani workers and professionals through the Employer Nomination Scheme(Subclass 186) visa, allowing eligible candidates nominated by approvedAustralian employers to secure permanent residency. Immigration expertsdescribe this pathway as a golden chance for Pakistanis possessingin-demand skills to build a stable future in one of the world’s mostlivable countries, gaining access to permanent work rights, healthcare,education and social security benefits.
The Subclass 186 visa forms a core component of Australia’s broaderstrategy to address persistent skills shortages across multiple prioritysectors. Australian government data shows that healthcare, construction,information technology, engineering, agriculture and hospitality continueto face acute labour shortages, creating strong demand for overseas talent.Pakistani applicants with relevant qualifications and experience in thesefields now stand a realistic chance of securing employer sponsorshipleading to permanent settlement.
Under the Employer Nomination Scheme, there are three main streams: theTemporary Residence Transition stream, the Direct Entry stream, and theLabour Agreement stream. The Direct Entry stream particularly suits manyPakistani professionals who have not previously worked in Australia ontemporary visas. Successful applicants must demonstrate at least threeyears of relevant work experience, positive skills assessment whererequired, competent English language proficiency and meet health andcharacter requirements set by the Department of Home Affairs.
One of the most attractive features of the Subclass 186 visa is theimmediate grant of permanent residency upon approval. Unlike temporary workvisas, this pathway allows the visa holder and their eligible familymembers to live and work in Australia indefinitely. Permanent residentsgain access to Medicare, the public healthcare system, and can enrolchildren in government schools without paying international student fees,significantly reducing the overall cost of migration and settlement.
For Pakistani migrants already in Australia on temporary visas such as theTemporary Skill Shortage (Subclass 482) visa, the Temporary ResidenceTransition stream offers a streamlined route to permanent residency afterworking for the same employer for a specified period, typically two tothree years depending on the nomination date. This provision has encouragedmany skilled Pakistanis working in regional and metropolitan areas totransition from temporary to permanent status.
Australian immigration statistics indicate that South Asian countries,including Pakistan, have consistently ranked among the top sources ofskilled migrants in recent years. In the 2023-24 migration program, skilledvisas constituted approximately 70 percent of the total permanent migrationintake. Industry reports suggest that Pakistani engineers, IT specialists,nurses, chefs and tradespeople are increasingly securing nominations due totheir strong work ethic and recognised qualifications.
The application process requires close coordination between the applicantand the nominating employer. The employer must first lodge a nominationapplication proving the position is genuine, meets the salary threshold andcannot be filled by an Australian worker. Once the nomination is approved,the visa applicant submits their individual application, including evidenceof skills, English language ability (usually IELTS 6.0 or equivalent ineach band) and police clearance certificates from Pakistan and any othercountry of residence.
Immigration consultants familiar with Pakistani applicants emphasise thatthorough preparation of documentation remains critical for success. Commonreasons for refusal include insufficient evidence of work experience,failure to meet English requirements and incomplete health examinations.Approved applicants typically receive visa grant notifications within 6 to18 months, depending on the stream and complexity of the case.
The permanent residency status obtained through Subclass 186 also opens thedoor to Australian citizenship after four years of residence, including atleast one year as a permanent resident. This long-term security appealsstrongly to Pakistani families seeking better educational prospects forchildren and improved quality of life away from economic uncertainties inPakistan.
Despite the opportunities, experts caution that the visa isemployer-driven, meaning securing a genuine nomination from an approvedAustralian business remains the biggest challenge. Pakistani applicants areadvised to utilise professional migration agents registered with the Officeof the Migration Agents Registration Authority and to verify employerlegitimacy through official channels before committing to any process.
The Australian Department of Home Affairs continues to accept and processSubclass 186 applications, with priority often given to critical sectoroccupations. As Australia refines its migration settings to balanceeconomic needs and population growth, skilled Pakistanis possessingqualifications aligned with the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills Listor the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List remain well-positioned tobenefit.
Source:https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/employer-nomination-scheme-186
Skilled Migration
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